The old man shuffled through the ancient stack.

“Hmm…suppose I could have you pull one from a stone, but that’s not very original, is it?”

He continued rummaging into the piles and stacks.

“Hmm…perhaps a staff, you’re the non-lethal sort, aren’t you? Didn’t swat flies or step on cockroaches growing up did you? But…there’s a bit of a swordsman in you, I can tell that too…”

“Uhm, pardon me sir, what are you-“

“Shh, shh, shh! Maybe…try this.”

The older man handed him a two-handed longsword. He took the hilt, but as soon as the elder man let go, the weight overcame his grip and the tip of the blade fell to the ground with a loud ring, then the weight of the sword pulled the rest of him down.

“Mmmm…indeed, a bit on the heavy side, isn’t it? Perhaps I should give you something lighter…”

“Excuse me but, what is so special about these?”

The old man stopped for a moment and looked up, several bundles in his hand.

“I’m not sure I should tell you that.”

Matt’s eyes dropped slightly. He let go of the hilt of the sword and stood up.

“Hmm, ah then, let me put it this way: these weapons draw out the power within. Of course, only those with power within can have it drawn out. You my boy have something to be drawn on indeed.”

The man tossed a sword toward him. He caught it lightly in his hand. No more than a short blade, only sharpened on one side and slightly curved. He waved it slightly in the air.

“Hmm…how interesting. I would have thought that wouldn’t work at all for you. But, you wanted a staff, didn’t you? I have just the one for you.”

The aged sage walked into the back room and seemed to be gone for several minutes during which Matt (fine) played around with the sword, also taking a moment to examine the sheath which belonged with it. A moment later the sage returned, carrying what appeared to be a mopstick with the mophead removed.

“This is perfect for you, light, wooden, green…a bit old, perhaps, but still. Don’t be fooled, it isn’t as ordinary as you might think.”

The old sage handed it to him and he spun it in his fingers.

“If you say so, sir, but how do I use these?”

“You can already move them, so the skill is there. Oh, you mean to draw out that power? That’s a little more interesting. I’ll take you to someone. Says you aren’t labeled with an ordinary element, didn’t say what it was you were stuck with though. I’m curious to find out, aren’t you, young one?”

(…”little Matt”…I suppose there are worse names…)